Sarkozy kisses model wife goodbye before starting his five-year prison stretch

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun a five-year prison sentence for conspiring to fund his 2007 election campaign with money from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He is the first former French president in recent memory to be imprisoned. Sarkozy departed for La Santé Prison in Paris after kissing his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, goodbye. Before entering the prison, Sarkozy stated on social media that an innocent man was being incarcerated. Hundreds of his supporters gathered outside the prison, applauding and chanting his name. Inmates reportedly welcomed him with cheers as he was led to the prison's VIP wing. Sarkozy's lawyers have filed a request for his release pending an appeal against his conviction. He has been mentally prepared for solitary confinement, which will keep him separate from other prisoners for security reasons. He packed sweaters due to the cold and earplugs to cope with the prison's noise. La Santé Prison holds over 1,300 inmates and is nearly double its official capacity. It is unclear if Sarkozy will be placed in isolation or a special wing for vulnerable people, but h... download the app to read more